Slovakia and China seek deeper ties in trade, technology and investment

Slovakia and China are seeking to deepen ties in trade, investment, technology and research, with both governments looking to expand cooperation. Recent high-level meetings have added momentum to this.

For Tibor Bucek, the relationship is personal. He first traveled to China in 1995. Since then he has watched the partnership grow, spending more than three decades building business links between both countries.

"I was in China 44 times, now I am preparing 45 times on 20 November. But when I go through these years, I can tell you this is a big change which I have had in front of my eyes," said Bucek, chairman of the Slovak-Chinese Investment Council.

Bucek wants to establish a new council bringing together business leaders from both countries. The goal is to turn contacts into projects. He says there is strong demand on both sides.

"I know about some projects, they are huge, big quality, and also both sides want it. But not only do they want it, they need it," he said.

Political ties have also gained momentum. In 2024, both countries upgraded relations and the pair established a strategic partnership. Slovak President Peter Pellegrini visited China in July, while Prime Minister Robert Fico has pushed for closer ties.

This week's talks in Beijing add to that effort. Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, their agenda including trade and investment. Technology and scientific cooperation were also discussed.

China is already a major economic partner for Slovakia. That role could expand, said Dr. Branislav Kováčik, dean of the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations at Matej Bel University.

According to Kováčik: "China is already an important economic partner for Slovakia and I believe its importance could grow in the coming years. 

"Slovakia has a strong industrial economy, especially the automotive sector. China is one of the global leaders in electric vehicles, battery production and new technologies. So this creates new opportunities for cooperation."

The automotive sector remains central to the partnership. Slovakia is a major European car producer, while China leads in electric vehicles and batteries. 

Two major projects highlight these links. They include a battery plant near Šurany and Volvo's factory near Košice, together representing more than $2.6 billion in investment.

But cooperation is expanding beyond manufacturing.

"Today we are talking much more about artificial intelligence, robotics, clean energy and scientific research," Kováčik said.

Trade figures show the scale of the relationship. Bilateral trade reached $13.8 billion in 2025 and forty-one Chinese companies operate in Slovakia.

European regulations are another part of the agenda. Five Chinese companies are seeking accreditation in Slovakia to certify products which contain steel, aluminum and auto parts.

For both countries, the next step is clear. They must turn political commitments into results. More investment and trade are key goals. So are opportunities for businesses and workers.